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The Head of the River

4.0 star property
4-star eco-certified inn near University of Oxford

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Head of the River

Exterior
Comfy Room
Garden
Exterior
Front of property

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Pet-friendly
  • Breakfast available
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant

Explore the area

Map
Folly Bridge, St. Aldates, Oxford, England, OX1 4LB
  • University of Oxford
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Christ Church College
    ‪4 min walk‬
  • Christ Church Cathedral
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Brize Norton (BZZ-RAF Brize Norton)
    ‪25 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Comfy Room

Comfy Room

Comfy Room

  • 14 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Indulgence Room

Indulgence Room

Indulgence Room

  • 16 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Cosy Room

Cosy Room

Cosy Room

  • 12 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Family Room

Family Room

Family Room

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Twin Sofa Bed

Similar properties

Exterior

Malmaison Oxford

  • Pet-friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Breakfast available
4.5 out of 5, Wonderful, (1004)
The price is CA $208
per night
CA $250 total
includes taxes & fees
2 Mar - 3 Mar
Malmaison Oxford

About the area

Oxford

Central Oxford getaway .At this Oxford City Centre inn, you'll be well placed to visit Thames River and University of Oxford, both within a 5-minute walk. Thames Path and Christ Church College are also within half a mile (1 km).
View more Inns in OxfordOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • University of Oxford - 3 min walk
  • Christ Church College - 4 min walk
  • Oxford Castle - 12 min walk
  • Bodleian Library - 13 min walk
  • New Theatre Oxford - 13 min walk

Getting around

  • Oxford Station - 17 min walk
  • Heathrow Airport (LHR) - 63 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Joe & the Juice - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪The Place to Eat - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Sticks'n'Sushi - Oxford - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪The Old Tom - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Curzon Oxford - ‬9 min walk

About this property

The Head of the River

4-star eco-certified inn near University of Oxford
There's a restaurant on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. Public spaces have free WiFi. The eco-certified The Head of the River also features a terrace and a garden.

This 4-star Oxford inn is smoke free.

  • 19 guestrooms or units
  • 3 levels
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • No smoking on site
  • Bar or lounge
  • Dining venue
The Head of the River offers 19 accommodations with espresso makers and complimentary bottled water. Flat-screen televisions come with digital channels. Bathrooms include showers, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones. Additionally, rooms include coffee/tea makers and irons/ironing boards. Housekeeping is provided on request.

Awards and affiliations

Eco-Certified Property
This property participates in Green Tourism Program, a program that measures the property's impact on one or more of the following: environment, community, cultural-heritage, the local economy.

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • No onsite parking available

Food and drink

  • Cooked-to-order breakfast available for a fee 7:00 AM–11:00 AM on weekdays and 8:00 AM–11:00 AM on weekends: GBP 10.00-15.00 per person
  • 1 restaurant
  • 1 bar

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • This property does not have elevators
  • Front entrance ramp
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Stairway handrail height (inches): 35
  • Lever door handles
  • Stair-free path to entrance
  • Tile flooring in public areas
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Visual fire alarm
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible public washroom
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk height (inches): 42
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • Digital channels
  • Flat-screen TV

Bedroom

  • Bed sheets
  • Heating

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Espresso maker
  • Free bottled water

More

  • Desk
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 8 AM - 9:30 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 11:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • Pets: GBP 10 per pet, per night
  • Food and water bowls are available
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Fee for cooked-to-order breakfast: approximately GBP 10.00 to 15.00 per person
  • Pet fee: GBP 10 per pet, per night
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. No onsite parking is available. The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Diners Club. Cash is not accepted. 

Property is also known as

Head River
Head River Inn
Head River Inn Oxford
Head River Oxford
Head Of The River Hotel Oxford
The Head of the River Inn
The Head of the River Oxford
The Head of the River Inn Oxford

The Head of the River Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 313 out of 644 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 233 out of 644 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 56 out of 644 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 35 out of 644 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 7 out of 644 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

8.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

panaporn

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

philip

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wed night Thames water decided to dig up Folley Bridge at 11.15pm. Unbelievably loud pneumatic drills being used to break up the concrete. This disturbance went on until about 3am. A total nightmare. Obviously not the fault of the Head of the River, but i hope HOTR will complain to the council for sanctioning these roadworks to begin at 11:15pm right next door to a hotel full of guests. Other than that, a perfect stay in Oxford and i fully recommend the HOTR as an ideal location with lovely hotel rooms.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bernadette

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
would recommend & would stay again when in the area. room was clean and comfortable, food was good and affordable, staff was excellent
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Quick but perfect stay at Head of the River!
We enjoyed a 2-night stay at Head of the River. Fantastic location. Restaurant/pub on site was excellent—and the included breakfast was an added bonus. Staff was lovely! Beds were very comfortable and bed linens were high quality. Loved our stay and would absolutely stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lucy

Great accommodation with lovey staff and great pub !
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Helen

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Love this property, everything you could ask for. Great food, lovely room with such character, great breakfast. Close to all the top spots in Oxford and close to the railway station and bus drop off from London.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Helen

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Head off the river is a stunning place to stay. The room is very clean and has everything you can need. The staff from the beginning were helpful and accommodating. The food at the restaurant had a full and great selection, and delicious.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carl

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely
Lovely stay
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peter

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

keith

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michele Van

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Enjoyed our stay in this unique hotel on the river Thames. Staff was very friendly and room cozy.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Larry

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Convenient location and walkable to town. Staff was friendly and helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

M Jane

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Friendly, helpful staff. Comfortable room. Excellent pub/restaurant. No lift.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Graeme

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Sarah

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Sadia

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leigh

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely rooms and pub in a beautiful old building. No on-site parking is a bit of a nuisance, but also understandable given the amazing location!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

susi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Overall good stay
Hotel and bar was nice staff helpful just a shame that other customers had to ruin the experience for us but the staff went out there way to make sure we was ok Walls are very thin and can here other people talking /snoring The pub garden was beautiful to sit in, with the sun
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tracie

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful old inn on the river, great food and nice staff
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Meena

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This place is lovely and very cute! It was our first trip to Oxford and the location was really convenient to the town center. The outdoor bar and restaurant is very charming and popular. The service was excellent- very friendly and helpful staff. Overall, excellent location, property and service
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca, Norman

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Denise

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Clean, cosy, welcoming and full of charm. The staff were friendly and helpful. My room had beautiful views of the river and meadow. I’d come back to Oxford just to stay here again.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anna

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We stayed at the Head of the River with our kids for a few days recently when visiting schools in the Oxford area. We really liked it. The rooms are lovely and have everything you need, the kids loved the free breakfast which was really delicious. We ended up eating most of our meals there and thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024